Democracy and its alternatives : understanding post-communist societies
Author(s)
Bibliographic Information
Democracy and its alternatives : understanding post-communist societies
Johns Hopkins University Press, 1998
- : pbk
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Note
Includes bibliographical references and index
Description and Table of Contents
- Volume
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ISBN 9780801860379
Description
The collapse of Communism has created the opportunity for democracy to spread from Prague to the Baltic and Black Seas. But the alternatives - dictatorship or totalitarian rule - are more in keeping with the traditions of Central Europe. For many post-Communist societies, democracy has come to be associated with inflation, unemployment, crime and corruption. Is it still true then, as Winston Churchill suggested in the 1940s, that people will accept democracy with all its faults because it is better than anything else? To find out, the authors of this study examine evidence from post-Communist societies in eastern Europe. Drawing on data from public opinion and exit polls, election results and interviews, they present testable hypotheses regarding regime change, consolidation and prospects for stabilization. They point out that the abrupt transition to democracy in post-Communist countries is normal; gradual evolution in the Anglo-American way is the exception to the rule. The volume offers a look at the process underway in nine eastern European countries: the Czech Republic; Hungary; Slovakia; Poland; Slovenia; Bulgaria; Romania; Belarus; and Ukraine.
Despite the many problems these post-Communist societies are experiencing in making the transition to a more open and democratic polity, the authors conclude that a little democracy is better than no democracy at all.
- Volume
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: pbk ISBN 9780801860386
Description
The collapse of Communism has created the opportunity for democracy to spread from Prague to the Baltic and Black Seas. But the alternatives-dictatorship or totalitarian rule-are more in keeping with the traditions of Central Europe. And for many post-Communist societies, democracy has come to be associated with inflation, unemployment, crime, and corruption. Is it still true, then, as Winston Churchill suggested a half-century ago, that people will accept democracy with all its faults-because it is better than anything else? To find out, political scientists Richard Rose, William Mishler, and Christian Haerpfer examine evidence from post-Communist societies in eastern Europe. Drawing on data from public opinion and exit polls, election results, and interviews, the authors present testable hypotheses regarding regime change, consolidation, and prospects for stabilization. The authors point out that the abrupt transition to democracy in post-Communist countries is normal; gradual evolution in the Anglo-American way is the exception to the rule.
While most recent books on democratization focus on Latin America and, to some extent, Asia, the present volume offers a unique look at the process currently under way in nine eastern European countries: the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Poland, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Romania, Belarus, and Ukraine. Despite the many problems these post-Communist societies are experiencing in making the transition to a more open and democratic polity, the authors conclude that a little democracy is better than no democracy at all.
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